MVT: Exclusive: MVTCID and FRESHFARMS are expanding the Saturday Farmers Market

We don’t have a lot of details at this point. But we do know that the FRESHFARM Mount Vernon Triangle Farmstand has outgrown its current space at 5th & K Streets NW and that a space near 5th & I Streets NW has been targeted as a new location for this popular weekend destination. Below is an early map of the layout and we expect it to go from one vendor in 3-4 tents to possibly 5-10 vendors in as many as 10-20 tents.

For those of us who enjoyed Jarrah Cernas and her Chicano Sol farm (our current vendor) they will return under this expanded format, so the produce you have enjoyed will still be available every Saturday!! I know she has become very special to the neighborhood. It is also confirmed that the expanded market would operate one hour longer than in prior years – from 10am until 2pm (instead of 10-1) -- which a lot of people had requested from MVTCID.

It’s so convenient to the neighborhood and it is one of only a few downtown DC markets that are open on Saturday when most people can find time to visit. And it just gets better, the MVTCID will be maintaining the popular community events (Spring Fest, Fall Fun Day, Dog Agility Day, live music and others) alongside the market at Milian Park. The programming will be enhanced with more cohesive event plans at Chinatown Park, and the MVTCID is working with the DowntownDC BID and Mayor’s Office of Asian Pacific Islander Affairs to pull this all together resulting in much more animated and fun programming for the area in and around these two “bowtie” parks

So there you have the great news; FRESHFARM expanding on I Street NW, and coupled with MVTCID and DowntownDC BID 'events' in both Milian and Chinatown Parks. There’s still some work to do with DC’s Department of Transportation, a handful of neighboring property owners and the obligatory sponsors, but preliminary indications are positive.

ANC Commissioner Alex Marriott stated,"I'm excited to see the CID taking advantage of the opportunity to bring more local vendors to the residents of our neighborhood. I am eager to work with with CID to help our Farmer's Market reflect our growing and diverse community."

In a statement from Kenyattah A. Robinson, Mount Vernon Triangle President & CEO, on the expansion and relocation of the FRESHFARM Mount Vernon Triangle Market

“The potential expansion and relocation of the FRESHFARM Mount Vernon Triangle farmstand into a full market this spring is just further evidence that Mount Vernon Triangle continues to grow, evolve and mature as a community. What’s more, we’re able to leverage the market’s presence to address the feedback and needs of our stakeholders, including greater breadth, quality and variety of products offered at the market, of which more than half of the respondents to our most recent Neighborhood Perception Survey said there were not enough, and more consistent activation of adjacent National Park Service greenspace so that this shared resource can be safely enjoyed by all.”

Congratulations to the MVTCID and FRESHFARM for pulling this together.